The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has decided to privatize the Odessa Port Plant (OPP), Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko announced.
“Today, we made a decision to privatize the Odessa Port Plant. The state-owned stake will be put up for an open electronic auction with a starting price of UAH 4.5 billion,” Sviridenko wrote on Telegram following Tuesday’s government meeting.
According to her, OPP is one of the largest chemical complexes in Ukraine, which before the war produced ammonia and urea and exported fertilizers, but since 2022, its main production has been shut down.
“The plant was operating partially, providing oxygen and nitrogen for critical needs and serving as a port hub. The enterprise must resume full-scale operations. This is only possible by attracting private owners and investments. The sale of OPZ will fill the budget, create new jobs, and provide Ukrainian farmers with access to domestic fertilizers,” the prime minister emphasized.
As reported by Taras Melnychuk, representative of the Cabinet of Ministers in the Verkhovna Rada, on Telegram, the terms of sale of the state’s 99.5667% stake in the authorized capital of Odesa Port Plant JSC at an electronic auction have been approved, which, in particular, provide for: the preservation of the company’s main activities; making investments in the form of capital investments for technical re-equipment and modernization (including energy modernization) of production in the total amount of at least UAH 500 million; repayment within twelve months from the date of transfer.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has updated the procedure for crossing the state border: men aged 18 to 22 will be able to cross the border without hindrance during martial law, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said.
“This applies to all citizens of the relevant age,” she wrote on Telegram.
According to the head of government, this decision also applies to citizens who, for various reasons, find themselves abroad. We want Ukrainians to maintain their ties with Ukraine as much as possible. The changes will take effect the day after the resolution is officially published.
Uzbekistan has abolished excise duties on imports of polyethylene granules and customs duties on primary forms of ethylene and propylene polymers. This is provided for by a decree of the President of Uzbekistan dated August 18 this year to support domestic manufacturers of high value-added ethylene and propylene polymer products.
According to the document, from September 1, 2025, to January 1, 2028, there will be a zero excise tax rate on polyethylene granules (currently 10%) that are not produced in the country and are imported according to an approved list.
Until 2028, import duties on certain primary forms of ethylene and propylene polymers (HS codes 3901 10 900 0, 3901 30, 3901 40, 3902 10 000 0), which currently stand at 5%.
At the same time, the Customs Committee and the Uzbek Agency for Technical Regulation, based on the ex officio principle, must take measures against the import of low-quality and counterfeit flexible packaging — polyethylene and polypropylene films, non-woven materials, bags, big bags, and other products.
customs duty, EXCISE DUTY, IMPORT, polymer raw materials, UZBEKISTAN
In the first half of August 2025, Ukraine increased its imports of dairy products to $14.7 million, the highest figure since the beginning of the year for similar periods. The previous record was set in the first half of March, six months ago, at $13.2 million, according to the Ukrainian Dairy Industry Association (UDIA).
The industry association noted that in monetary terms, imports increased by 30% compared to the first half of July and almost one and a half times compared to the first half of June.
In addition, in real terms, growth was recorded for almost all commodity items, except for whey, imports of which fell by a third. The largest increase, 25%, was observed in the cheese group: more than 1.8 thousand tons of this product were imported into the country. This commodity item accounts for the lion’s share of the value structure of imports (almost 85%).
As a result, the balance of exports and imports of dairy products became negative for the first time since March, at $(-4.3) million.
Analysts believe that such a significant increase in imports was largely due to the rise in domestic prices for raw milk in Ukraine, which occurred in the second half of July (+5%) and continued in August. This partially reduced the competitiveness of domestic products, making imports more attractive.
“Such dynamics affect the country’s balance of payments and require a balanced approach to pricing in the domestic dairy products market,” the SMPU concluded.
Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR has begun developing an oil field in Uzbekistan. This was announced by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on August 22 at a trilateral meeting with the President of Uzbekistan and the Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan in Turkmenbashi.
“We have traditional energy cooperation with Turkmenistan. We have already entered this field with Uzbekistan. Our state oil company SOCAR has already begun developing an oil field in Uzbekistan, and the contract has already been signed,“ Aliyev said.
According to him, Azerbaijan expects to receive ”good news” about the results of the work within the next year or two. “We are all eagerly awaiting news about the discovery of a large oil field in Uzbekistan,” he said.
On July 24, Uzbekistan and the Azerbaijani state-owned company SOCAR signed a production sharing agreement (PSA) for the Ustyurt Plateau.
Investments in the project are estimated at $2 billion. Over the next five years, SOCAR, which is the project operator, will conduct 3D seismic surveys covering an area of at least 1,000 square kilometers and drill at least one exploration well. If a commercial field is discovered, the parties will proceed with its development. Reserves are estimated at up to 100 million tons of oil and 35 billion cubic meters of gas.
PJSC “European Insurance Alliance” (Kiev) in January-June 2025 collected UAH 186.8 mln of net premiums, 48.71% more than in the same period a year earlier, as well as increased the volume of gross premiums by 35.5% – to UAH 194.05 mln.
This is evidenced by the data in the information of the rating agency “Standard-rating” on updating of the company credit rating/rating of financial stability (reliability) of the insurer at the level of “uaAA” on the national scale according to the results of the specified period.
As it is noted, receipts from individuals of the insurer for the first half of the year have grown by 75,33% – up to UAH 77,806 mln, and from reinsurers have decreased by 13,08% – up to UAH 0,412 mln. Thus, legal entities continue to prevail in the client portfolio of the company.
For six months of 2025 the company has paid out UAH 104,7 mln to clients – by 32,4% more than a year earlier.
According to RA data, as of July 2025 65,57% of the company’s liabilities were covered by liquid assets (cash, government bonds and bank deposits).
At the same time the company has formed a portfolio of financial investments, which consists of government bonds and bank deposits in the amount of UAH 124,558 mln, that positively influences its provision with liquid assets.
As of the beginning of Q3 2025, 38,91% of PJSC ‘European Insurance Alliance’ liabilities were covered by shareholders’ equity, and 4,92% of liabilities – by cash on accounts and cash equivalents.
PJSC ‘European Insurance Alliance’ has been operating in the insurance market of Ukraine since 1994. It is a member of the Auditing Commission of the MTSBU, a participant of the agreement on direct settlement of losses on compulsory insurance of civil liability of owners of land vehicles, a member of the Board of the Nuclear Insurance Pool of Ukraine.
The company provides 30 types of voluntary and compulsory insurance, including property, automobile, liability and personal insurance.
